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The History Of Talisker

People and places don't just shape a Single Malt Scotch Whisky's flavour. They change the course of its future. Get a taste of how the whisky you love today came to be, with this brief Talisker timeline.

1825

1825

Brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill arrive on Skye from the smaller island of Eigg.

1830

1830

The MacAskills build Talisker Distillery at Carbost on the shore of Loch Harport, despite opposition from the local clergy.

1857

1857

Talisker is leased to Donald McLellan.

1866

1866

Mclellan, bankrupt by 1863, passes over the lease to a Glasgow Agent called John Anderson. Anderson states “There is not a whisky gets a better reputation in the market.”

1880

1880

A better standard of management is brought in, in the form of Alexander Grigor Allan and Roderick Kemp, both upstanding members of Morayshire and Aberdeen society. Having traveled through the region, writer R.L.Stevenson states whisky, in particular Talisker, to be: “The King o’drinks as I conceive it.”

1892

1892

Roderick Kemp sells his share of Talisker, using the money to buy Macallan.

1898

1898

Allan decides to merge with Thomas MacKenzie to form Dailuiane-Talisker Distillery Co. Ltd. By now Talisker is one of the best-selling single malt whiskies in the country.

1900

1900

Success brings improved infrastructure in the form of Talisker’s own pier, tramway and worker housing.

1916

1916

The death of Thomas MacKenzie gives John Walker & Sons and John Dewar & Sons the chance to form a consortium and take over.

1928

1928

A form of triple distillation, originally used and common throughout Scotland is abandoned, though without adverse effect.

1941

1941

Like so many others, Talisker shuts down to conserve barley during the war.

1960

1960

A fire destroys the stillhouse.

1962

1962

The five stills lost in the fire are replaced by replicas still heated by coal.

1972

1972

The original floor maltings are closed and instead the malt comes from Glen Ord Central Maltings in the Highlands.